Mysore races cancelled till Aug

Bangalore, DHNS: July 21, 2013

The stewards of the Mysore Race Club Limited (MRCL) have decided to cancel the races until mid-August after several cases of bacterial infection Strangles were reported.

According to KG Anantharaj Urs, secretary of MRCL, 14 horses were affected with the contagious upper respiratory tract infection. Of the 14, 12 have recovered while the other two were still under treatment.

“Upon advice from the Veterinary Council of India and Turf Authorities of India, we’ve decided to cancel the races,” Urs told Deccan Herald. “It’s more of a preventive measure to contain the disease. However, there is no need to panic as the horses have been segregated and most of them have recovered.”

The races that were cancelled are the ones scheduled to be held on July 22 and 23. The first two days of Mysore Races 2013 on August 16 and 17 were also cancelled.

Bangalore Turf Club secretary Nirmal Prasad said there were no concerns over the issue in Bangalore, where the summer season is in full swing, and he also added that Bangalore horses do not run in the races in Mysore race club.

“There is no concern on the issue here as horses from Mysore don’t compete here and the Bangalore horses don’t run in Mysore now. The races here will go ahead as planned,” he said.